Two Wheel View

SHLF is proud to announce a brand-new partnership with Calgary's Two Wheel View (TWV)! Two Wheel View (TWV) provides leadership, environmental and cultural exchange programs toyoung people through their participation in bicycle education and expedition programs.

Having conducted the Earn-a-Bike programs since 2006 in the Calgary area, SHLF is providing the support necessary for the programme to expand to Calgary’s SouthWest, an underserved area for after school programming.

The Earn-a-Bike programme ses the bicycle as a tool to get kids active, build confidence and develop leadership skills. Each week youth ages 11-17 participate in a free after-school program where they go on bike rides, receive a healthy snack, play games and discuss the daily lessons in both character (community, leadership, self-esteem) and basic bike mechanics.Youth who attend all eight to ten of the sessions of the program earn a community donated bicycle of their own, a new lock and a helmet and can go on a TWV 3-5 day bike trip. The program builds confidence and teaches youth lifelong skills in a safe, encouraging and hands-on learning environment. They also have the opportunity to connect with positive adult mentors who provide guidance, friendship and support during the program.

Streetfront

For the 5th year in a row, SHLF is proud to support the efforts of Streetfront and their amazing youth, through their alternative schooling program that combines academics with sports in a unique approach to learning. Working out of Britannia Alternative School in East Vancouver, this program has seen more than 100 of its at-risk youth run marathons!

As their only funding partner, SHLF funds all their core and extra-curricular activities. YOU help them to achieve this by helping fund 3 major camping trips and 20 adventure outings including hiking, kayaking, rock-climbing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, mountain biking, triathlon and marathon training as well as a Wild Play adventure day. Your support in 2013/14 will also provide running shoes, entry fees, fees to participate in mainstream school sports teams, equipment and transportation. In 2013, 22 participants completed the program. Similar numbers are expected in 2014.

Major recent achievements include an 85% attendance rate, 10 students that progressed from failing to 80% in the highest level math curriculum and 4 students re-entering mainstream highschool and headed to graduation. Congratulations Streetfront!

Take a Hike

The 44 alternative students involved in the TAH programme spend half their time in the classroom and the other half outdoors. SHLF is proud to provide the crucial multi-day expeditions to TAH participants, necessary in providing youth with the life skills to succeed in and out of the classroom.

The results from the TAH intervention have consistently demonstrated measurable improvements in self-esteem, communication, conflict resolution and social skills, connection to school and ability to manage stress as measured through Life Skills Tests administered at the beginning and end of every school year.

SHLF donors provide 3 fall excursions for Take a Hike youth. Last year, these included a 3 day hiking expedition to Tenquille Lake Hut, 3 day kayaking expedition to Granite Falls and 10 day canoe expedition to the Bowron Lakes. The end result for TAH and its work is that youth gain the life skills required to complete their high school diploma and build positive and productive lives after being in the program. Congratulations to all this year’s graduates.- we look forward to your continued success!

Bouncing Boys Back to Books

For the 5th year running, SHLF is proud to support our friends at BBBB and their remarkable summer programme. Targeted towards boys in grades 1-5 with demonstrated learning struggles, the programme combines daily basketball with reading activities. The need for the unique summer programme arose after teachers noted some boys’ struggling to re-adapt to the scholastic programme after summers.

In addition to trying to prepare the kids for re-entry in the Fall, one of the objectives of the summer programme is to foster supportive peer relationships to last throughout the year. Throughout the school year, pairs of boys of different ages have been seen meeting up at recess or lunch time for a high five or a chat – it is working! Teachers at all grade levels have noted improved behaviour and academic results on behalf of camp participants. Less behavioural incidents have been reported to school administrators throughout the year and teachers have noted active participation in activities concerning reading.

After 5 years, SHLF is able to see the long-term benefits for the boys, including this year's return of one previous camper. Now going into Grade 10 and a Counselor in Training for the programme, he is an honour role student in high school and planning on going into civil engineering!